Calima: Saharan dust and over 30°C in the Canary Islands

A significant change in the weather is approaching the Canary Islands. From Sunday, 25 October, until Wednesday, 28 October, a substantial influx of Saharan dust is forecast to affect the archipelago, bringing a prolonged episode of Calima.

And it won't just be the dust making its presence felt. The incoming air mass will also bring much warmer conditions, with daytime temperatures forecast to exceed 30°C in some areas.

Our latest weather maps at meteo365.es already show the developing situation over northwest Africa and the eastern Atlantic.

Saharan dust heading towards the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands lie just off the northwest African coast, making them particularly exposed to episodes of Saharan dust transported westwards from the continent.From Sunday, Saharan dust is expected to spread towards the Canary Islands, with the episode forecast to persist through Wednesday.

This means that hazy skies, reduced visibility and elevated dust concentrations could remain a feature of the weather for several consecutive days.

However, conditions will not necessarily be the same everywhere. The intensity and distribution of the dust may vary between islands and from one day to the next.

How much dust is in the air

PM10 daily mean in micrograms per cubic metre · mark in the bar: EU daily limit of 50 · CAMS run of 23 October 2026, 12 UTC

Sunday 25 Oct Monday 26 Oct Tuesday 27 Oct Wednesday 28 Oct

1. 1Tenerife77
2. 2El Hierro66
3. 3Las Palmas46
4. 4La Palma45
5. 5Lanzarote26
6. 6Fuerteventura26

Temperatures above 30°C: late October feels like summer

Alongside the Saharan dust, warmer air from North Africa is expected to reach the archipelago.

According to the ARPEGE model, Maspalomas could reach 31.7°C on Monday and Agüimes 30.2°C. Those are distinctly summery conditions, despite the calendar already showing the final week of October.

Location	Sun 25	Mon 26	Tue 27	Wed 28
Maspalomas, Gran Canaria	29.9°C	31.7°C	29.1°C	24.7°C
Agüimes, Gran Canaria	26.5°C	30.2°C	26.9°C	22.0°C
Jandía, Fuerteventura	27.0°C	29.7°C	28.1°C	22.5°C
Antigua, Fuerteventura	23.8°C	29.7°C	26.6°C	20.2°C
Tenerife South Airport	27.4°C	27.7°C	28.3°C	25.4°C
Santa Cruz de Tenerife	22.3°C	26.8°C	24.2°C	19.1°C
Las Palmas	24.6°C	25.5°C	25.2°C	24.5°C
Arrecife, Lanzarote	24.6°C	25.5°C	25.0°C	21.8°C

Forecast daytime maximum temperatures, ARPEGE model run of 24 October 2026, 00 UTC. The sheltered southern and inland locations are the warmest; on the coast and in the north it stays noticeably cooler.

The combination of heat and airborne dust could make outdoor conditions less comfortable, particularly in sheltered inland areas.

Coastal locations may experience different conditions depending on local winds and exposure.

For residents and holidaymakers, it will be worth checking both the temperature forecast and the latest air-quality information before planning extended outdoor activities.

Sunday to Wednesday: how the Calima episode could develop

Sunday, 25 October: Saharan dust begins moving towards the Canary Islands, accompanied by increasingly warm air. Maspalomas already reaches almost 30°C.

Monday, 26 October: the warmest day of the episode, and the dust becomes clearly noticeable. On Tenerife the PM10 daily mean rises to around 77 micrograms per cubic metre, well above the European daily limit of 50.

Tuesday, 27 October: Saharan dust remains a feature of the forecast. The highest values shift towards the western islands, with around 85 micrograms per cubic metre on El Hierro and 79 on La Palma.

Wednesday, 28 October: the dust is still there, and on the eastern islands it even increases again, with around 78 micrograms per cubic metre on Fuerteventura. The heat, however, eases clearly: Maspalomas drops back to below 25°C.

The precise timing and intensity of the dust plume remain subject to forecast updates.

Satellite monitoring: following the Calima as it develops

At meteo365.es, we are monitoring the situation using two complementary sources of weather information.Satellite monitoring helps us follow the development of the dust-bearing air mass, while atmospheric forecasts provide additional information about its expected movement and concentration.

Together, these tools offer a clearer picture of how the Calima episode may develop between Sunday and Wednesday.

What does Calima mean for travellers?

Calima is an important weather phenomenon for anyone visiting or living in the Canary Islands.

Depending on its intensity, Saharan dust can affect visibility, air quality and outdoor activities. In stronger episodes, reduced visibility may also become relevant for aviation operations.

However, the presence of Saharan dust does not automatically mean flight disruptions. Any operational effects depend on actual conditions at individual airports.

People with respiratory sensitivities should pay particular attention to local air-quality information and any recommendations issued by the relevant authorities.

Stay informed with meteo365.es throughout the episode

How much Saharan dust will reach the Canary Islands? Which islands will experience the highest concentrations? Where will temperatures exceed 30°C? And when will the Calima finally begin to clear?

These are the developments we will be following closely from Sunday through Wednesday.

At meteo365.es, you can explore:

• Interactive Saharan dust and air-quality forecast maps
• GeoColor satellite imagery for monitoring atmospheric developments
• Detailed temperature and wind forecasts
• Aviation weather information for airports worldwide
• Regularly updated forecasts, with new forecast data four times daily

Whether you live in the Canary Islands, are enjoying a holiday or are planning to travel there, stay informed throughout this extended spell of Saharan dust and unusually warm weather.

meteo365.es — Weather you can understand. Information you can trust.

Forecast information based on meteo365.es weather maps, the ARPEGE model, CAMS atmospheric data and EUMETSAT satellite imagery. The forecast describes expected conditions and may change as newer data becomes available.